Full text of the statement made by Alan Gray about an informal dinner with the Taoiseach.
Indecon managing partner, Mr Alan Gray, is happy to confirm he was invited to attend an informal dinner with the Taoiseach in Druids Glen on Monday 28th July, 2008. The purpose of the invitation was to provide independent ideas to stimulate economic growth and to reduce unemployment in Ireland.
The attendees at the dinner comprised An Taoiseach, Mr Fintan Drury, Mr Gary McGann, Mr Sean Fitzpatrick and the Taoiseach’s driver.
Mr Gray met Mr Fitzpatrick for the first time on that date, 28th July 2008. Indecon confirms that the practice has never acted for Anglo, and Anglo were never a client of the firm.
As a leading economist and author, and head of the largest economic consultancy practice in Ireland, Alan Gray has been invited to give his views on economic and unemployment policies to respective governments in Ireland and governments internationally. Alan Gray edited the book on Responses to Irish Unemployment and was also author of the book on Employment Potential in Irish Manufacturing in the 1980’s.
At no time when Mr Gray was present at the dinner was there any discussion of banking issues or of Anglo Irish Bank or any related matters. The discussion focused exclusively on initiatives to encourage new small indigenous firms, and measures to attract additional investment to Ireland and other responses to unemployment.
Mr Gray did not play golf with the group.